There are so many wonderful stories out there of people who are making a difference in the community. Rabbi Eckstein was one of them. The day after I got the opportunity to spend an hour with this amazing man, he sadly died.

There is a lot more work to be done but it's definitely the Bible. The Jewish people are God's people. The Gentiles who have been grafted on are called upon and Isaiah talks about, "Comfort yea, comfort yea my people". Today there is a way in which Christians can fulfil that mandate of Isaiah: feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, not averting our eyes from our flesh and blood.

We know from the Bible and from history that Christians are called to bless the Jewish people. Today in 2019 you witness the anti-Semitism all around, although everyone thought that it was over. We are seeing the beginnings of that now. The holocaust didn't happen in one second or one year, it was from 1933 till 1938. When the doors of Germany were closed, anti-Semitism became rampant and even from 1938 onwards there was still persecution of Jews, including concentration camps.

The point is these things don't just suddenly happen. There are traits, trends and signs of what could happen. Even in Western countries we know how nationalist fervour can overtake the moral sensibilities of a population, even of the government, and carry out its horrible dictates towards Jews. I wish every country had a zero tolerance for anti-Semitism.

Paul: Finally, what is your prayer for the future relationship between Christians and Jews?

Forty years ago I started as the head of Christian-Jewish relations for a group called the Anti-Deformation League, followed by the first evangelical Jewish dialogues. Then I started the fellowship 36 years ago.
My hope then was that Christians would demonstrate through tangible, meaningful and apolitical deeds their love for Israel and the Jewish people. That has happened and it is still growing.

My hope and my prayer then for Jews was what I call the four A's. Firstly, that Jews would become 'aware' of the fact that there were Christians who were standing with them. Secondly, that they would 'acknowledge' it publicly. Thirdly, that they would 'appreciate' it. Jews would say, "Thank you very much Christians for your help". The forth is that 'attitudes' would change towards each community.

It's not just something that they do, but it's a total attitude change of Christians and Jews realising we are in this battle together. I don't only mean the spiritual battle against evil but I mean the political battle of rising radical Islam that is against Christians as much as it's against Jews.

If we didn't learn lessons from the past then we need to learn it now before it's too late. We are in this boat together, Christians and Jews. We need to stand up together for our values, our Judeo-Christian heritage, the centrality of the Bible and the co-partnership of Christians and Jews in bringing greater light into the dark world.

Paul: What is your website for anyone who would like to know more about the great programs that you are doing?

Our website is www.ifcj.org